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Take it from the girl who left her family and friends behind to pursue her dream when she was 16 years old. Oh wait... you're about to leave your loved ones behind to accomplish your goals, too, right?

It's no wonder  

Rihanna

 's sophomore CD, "A Girl Like Me" is resonating with fans everywhere. This 18-year-old songstress will not only inspire you to dance, but hear some little-known tidbits about her, you'll be inspired to move on toward fulfilling your own dreams.

The next time you're listening to "Unfaithful" or "S.O.S." on your iPod, take note...

Big moves
Rihanna was about to begin studying psychology when she had the opportunity to leave Barbados and begin a music career in the United States.

School days
"I hated English -- it was too easy for me, and I got bored with it. Math was a little more challenging... I like calculating stuff."

She's never...
...taken singing lessons. "Of course, there's never enough that you can learn. I'd love to do it one day when I have time."

On overcoming fear to pursue your goals...
"Realize that it's all in your mind. If it's something that you really want to do, you have to be a strong person. When I think about what I did -- leaving my family at 16 years old to move to a foreign country -- I see now that it was a big move. But I didn't see it like that at that time... I just wanted to become a singer, and I knew it was what I had to do."

All in the family?
Not really. Rihanna has two younger brothers, ages 10 and 16, for whom music is not a goal. "One of my brothers wants to become an architect."

Got nerves? Good!
"I think nerves help... When I'm not nervous, I get nervous about not being nervous!"

** Exclusive advice to CB Teen readers:**
"You have to go into your future wanting to make a difference. You have to want to stand out. There are so many doctors, business people... you need to become the best. If you go into it like that, you can never go wrong. Keep your mindset and focus. It's not going to be easy -- there will be hard work no matter what career you choose."


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Gina LaGuardia is the Editor-in-Chief of The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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